Roller attachment for tractors



Mar. 1923. v I 11,447,597

1 J. B. THEISEN ROLLER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS File'd June 26, 1922 Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

JOHN B. THEISEN, F ALLENTON, WISCONSIN.

ROLLER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS.

Application filed June 26, 1922.

T 0 all 'u; [tom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. THnIsnN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Allenton, in the county of Washington and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller Attachments for Tractors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

roller attachment for tractor wheels, and it has for its primary object to provide a simple, economical and efficient drum unit for encasing the wheels of a tractor, whereby the load strain at the ground line of the tractor wheel will impart rotation to the roller units, the said roller units having play relative to its associated tractor wheel to permit slight, independent and vertical transverse movement of the same.

The main object of the invention is to utilize the roller unitsfor rolling in or tamping cultivated land in the early spring, which land has been previously seeded and to thus ensure a maximum crop.

Another particular function of the device is to roll in loose stones, whichmay be expelled from the earth during the winter season and to, in effect, press the cultivated surface of the ground, whereby the seed will -be more readily sprouted.

It follows that the rollers may be used for various other purposes to which such rollers are applicable in farm usage.

With the above and other minor objects in view, the invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of mechanism elements as are hereinafter set forthwith reference to the accompanying drawing and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a tractor wheel equipped with a roller unit embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2, a face view of the same, with parts broken away and other parts in section to more clearly show certain structural features, and I Figure 3, a detail sectional view thru the drum illustrating the key-block connection between it and a disk member.

Referring by characters to the drawing, 1 represents the outer inturn flange of a standard tractor wheel, provided with the usual tractor ribs or lags 2 disposed about the pe- My invention refers particularly to land Serial No. 571,092.

riphery of the wheel tread, the said lag being of any suitable design. Each wheel is encased Within a drum 8, which drum is preferably formed from a plurality of wood strips or stays bound by suitable metallic hooks, as shown. Approximately one-half of the drum overhangs or encases the wheel tread and the other half projects outwardly lfieyond the same to form a wide rolling surace.

The drum is loosely mounted. upon a disk 4, which is positioned midway of the width of the drum. This disk is also preferably formed of wood, and, as shown, it is divided with a pair of crossed radial arms 5, which, for example, may be developed from stock scantling. Secured to the outer faces of the cross arms is a double wood paneling 6, the same being formed in two layers running in opposite directions to render the disk rigid and of sufficient thickness to resist strains. The circular faces of the paneling 6 are bound by a metallic band 6, and at spaced intervals the band and peripheral face of the paneling is notched out to form engaging recesses 7 for key-blocks 8, which key-blocks fit loosely in the recesses 7 and are secured to the inner face of the drum, whereby said drum is held against rotation relative to the disk, but it is also permitted to have a predetermined play relative to the disk in a lateral and radial direction. The lateral play of the drum with relation to the disk is limited by cleats 9, which cleats are secured to the face of the drum upon opposite sides of the disk paneling 6.

It will be noted that the drum is of greater diameter than the tractor wheel, and that the lags upon said tractor wheel engage the inner surface of the drum at the ground line, whereby the load strain will be directed upon the drum at said line to provide ample weight for rolling purposes. The drum structure is loosely held in its nested engagement over the wheel by a plurality of fingers 10, which fingers are confined to the cross arms 5 and the disk paneling by bolts. The cross arms, at their ends, are cut away slightly to permit abutting engagement of the outer wheel flange 1 and the fingers project above the shoulder or cut away portion of the cross arm a sufficient distance to engage the inner surface of the flange 1 at predetermined points about said flange during seen that as the smaller tractor wheel is rotated, the drum,will be driven invthe same direction and will be permitted to accommo 15 date its outer surface to irregularities of the ground surface. The saidground surface, is rolledthoroughly and the flexibility a. between the rollers and .the tractor will. permit proper function of the parts.

drums as being constructedfrom wood parts .wholly, it is. within thescope of my inven tion to manufacture the, same either wholly p p and means for loosely confining the drum to or in part from metallicelements.

from the tractor wheels and, likewise attached thereto, when. required.

\Vhile l have shown, and described -a simpleexample of my invention minutelywith reference to its details, it isunderstood that I. may vary the structural. features within It will also be. seen that when the drumslv are not in use, theycan be read1ly\re1noved lVhile I have shown and described the the scope of the claims as they will be herein after interpreted.

I claim: 7

1. In a tractor wheel, the tread of which is provided with an inturn flange; the combination of a roller attachment for the wheel 'vith the periphery of the disk and inner surface of said drum to limit lateral movement of the same relative to the disk.

2. In a tractor wheel having a tread pro vided with an intuln flange, the combination of a roller attachment, the same comprising a disk, fingers carried the disk for engaging the wheel flange, a drum surmount ing the disk and encasing the wheel-tread, the sa1d tread being in engagement with the inner surface of the drum atits ground line,

the disk, whereby said drum is capable of .playiin an axialdirection and radial direc tlonrelative to thedisk. V i In testimonythat I claim the foregoing I haveflhereunto set my hand at Allenton,

in the county of Washington and State of .l Yi sconsin.

Y I JOHN B. THEISEN. 

